Pipe elevator



Oct. 18, 1966 R. F. WILCOX PIPE ELEVATOR Filed Feb. 23, 1965 IN VEN TOR.

ROY F. WILCOX R IM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,279,842 PIPE ELEVATORRoy F. Wilcox, Rte. 4, McCook, Nebr. Filed Feb. 23, 1965, Ser. No.434,280 3 Claims. (Cl. 294-90) This invention relates to an elevatordevice for cylindrical pipe, particularly adapted for use in therepairing of wells, both in pulling pipes and in lowering or replacingpipes.

In the operations of pulling and replacing cylindrical pipes in wells,three primary tools are required. There is a power source located abovethe pipe, a pipe elevator connecting the power source to the pipe, and aguide support device for the pipe located along the well opening. Whilethis invention relates to a similar general environment, the actualinvention is a simple and extremely adaptable pipe elevator forconnecting the power source to the vertical pipe.

, It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe elevatordevice that may be readily applied about a vertical pipe whether ornotthe vertical pipe is provided with a terminal coupling device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pipe elevatordevice that will engage a vertical pipe with equal facility both inlower abutment with a terminal coupling device and anywhere along thelength of the pipe.

It is yet another object to provide a pipe elevator device that may beadjusted for pipes of different sizes and which has a removable sectionto facilitate application, from a sideward direction, about variouscross-sectional shapes and sizes of pipes.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pipeelevator device that is economical to manufacture and repair utilizingreadily available simple parts.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination, and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the drawing, wherein like numbers indicate like parts in the severalviews, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the pipe elevator device of thepresent invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the pipe elevator.

FIGURE '3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2. Avertical pipe indicated in phantom line is shown engaged by the pipeelevator device both in lower abutment with terminal pipe coupling andalternatively along the length of the pipe.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

The pipe elevator device of the present invention comprises an elongateframe 11 comprising a pair of parallel elongate bars 12 and 13 rigidlyspaced apart by means of integral transverse cross-bars 14 and 15, so asto provide a longitudinal slot 16 through elongate frame 11. Integralcross-bar 14 is located nearer to the upper first end 17 of frame '11while integral crossbar is located nearer to the lower second end 18 offrame 11. A lug 19 located between elongate bars 12 and 13 is attachedto said frame bars near the first end 17 of frame 11; lug 19 is providedwith a transverse perforation 20. Frame 11 should be transversely rigidand bow free; therefore, unless bars 12 and 13 are of heavy gaugematerial, additional cross-bars between 14 and 15 should be employed.

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A collar member 30 comprises a clevis 31 disposed forwardly andtransversely of frame 11 and an integral elongate shank 32 extendingrearwardly through slot 16 and terminating near second end 18 of frame11. The terminal portion of shank 32 is provided with transverseperforation 46. Collar member 30 is pivotably attached to frame 11nearer to second end 18 by means of a transverse pivot pin, herein as aheaded bolt 33 threadedly engaged with parallel bars 12 and 13, passingthrough a non-threaded perforation in elongate shank 32.

The clevis forward portion 31 of collar member 30 comprises a pair ofarms 34 and 35 disposed in a U- shaped relationship. That U-shapedsurface of clevis 31 located nearer to frame first end 17 is a planartable side 36. The two respective arms 34 and 35 of clevis 31 areprovided with two linearly aligned passages, one in each arm. Atransverse stop pin 37 of non-circular cross-sectional shape, herein asrectangular, slidably passes through the aligned passages so as to beremovably attached across the forward opening of said clevis. A sleeve38 of non-circular internal cross-sectional shape slidably surroundsstop pin 37 between clevis arms 34 and 35 so as to be rotationally fixedwith respect to the surrounded stop pin.

There are means to maintain transverse stop pin 37 within the twoaligned passages in clevis arms 34 and 35. Preferably such means maytake the form of a rearward notch 39 near the leading end 41 of stop pin37 together with a restraining plate 42 pivotably attached transverselyof arm 35; restraining plate 42 pivots into engagement with rearwardnotch 39 of stop pin 37.

Non-rigid linking means, herein as multi-link chain 43, are used toprevent loss of stop pin 37 from frame 11. Preferably chain 43 isattached between the perforate trailing end 44 of stop pin 37 andperforate car 45 attached along frame bar 13 near second end 18.

There is a trio of transverse perforations through frame 11, said groupof three linearly aligned perforations being located between transversepivot point 33 and frame first end 17. At least the two terminalperforations of the trio are threaded in elongate bars 12 and 13. Thespacing, between the medial perforation and the respective terminalperforations are equal. A locking-bar 50, as a rigid rectangular stripof metal, is positioned within the longitudinal slot 16 of elongateframe 11. Locking-bar 50 is provided with two transverse perforations,the spacing of which is equal to that for the trio perforations of theelongate frame. At least one of the two perforations in locking bar 50is non-threaded.

Locking-bar 50 within longitudinal slot 16 is attached in a normallypivotal fashion to frame 11 'by means of central pivot pin 51, herein asa threaded bolt, said bolt 51 being in threaded engagement with themedial threaded perforation of the frames trio of perforations, saidbolt 51 also passing through the non-threaded perforation of locking-bar50. One of the two threaded terminal perforations of the frames trioperforations carries a threaded bolt 52 to provide means forrotationally fixing the normally pivotal locking-bar 50 longitudinallywithin the longitudinal slot 16 of elongate frame 11. The length oflocking-bar 50 should be such so that, when inthe downward posit-ion(shown as solid line in FIGURE 3), bar 50 will longitudinally bearagainst collar member elongate shank 32 and limit the pivotal motion ofclevis table side 36 toward frame second end 18 to a position wherebytable side 36 is substantially perpendicular to the elongate framelongitudinal axis. Threaded bolt 52, in threaded engagement with thelower terminal perforation of the frame s threaded trio and in threadedengagement with a threaded perforation of locking-bar 50, maintains bar50 in a longitudinal position bearing against elongate shank 32.

There are means, preferably abutment means, to limit the pivotal motionof the collar member clevis 31 toward the elongate frame first end 17 toa position whereby the clevis table side 36 is substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate frame 11. Suchabutment means may be the forward surface 55 of shank 32 abuttingagainst cross-bar 15, or rearward surface 54 of clevis 31 abuttingagainst the forward side of elongate bars 12 and 13, or both.

Operation of the pipe elevator device 10, which can be used in bothpulling and replacing cylindrical well pipe, is best indicated in FIGURE3 and is as follows. The cylindrical pipe 61 and an integral coupling 62therefor are shown in phantom line in FIGURE 3, said pipe and integralcoupling forming merely an environment for the elevator device 10. Thecylindrical pipe 61 must be securely engaged by means of clevis 31 at apoint beneath its integral coupling 62. Clevis 31 is so engaged by firstremoving transverse stop pin 37 from its slidably removable engagementacross the forward opening of clevis 31, then partially surrounding pipe61 with clevis 31, and then slidably replacing stop pin 37 so that pipe61 is completely surrounded by clevis 31 and stop pin 3'7. Cylindricalpipes of smaller diameters require the sleeve-type adapter 38 thatslidably surrounds stop pin 37, said adapter being rotationally fixedwith respect thereto.

Pipe elevator device 10, whether used for pulling or lowering e.g.replacing, cylindrical well pipe, is itself supported with a verticalcable 57, shown in phantom line, that is securely tied to the upperfirst end 18 of frame 11 through transverse perforation 20. Verticalcable 57 is the lower terminus of a power source for raising andlowering cylindrical well pipe; most commonly a block-andtacklearrangement, vertically supported from a tower e.g. a windmill-typetower, is used for such a power source.

That desirable situation where the block-and-tackle supporting tower isof sufiicient height so that pipe 61 can 'be engaged directly beneathits terminal coupling 62 is indicated in FIGURE 3 with the collar member30 and the locking-bar 50 being shown in solid line. In this situationthe collar member 30 is rotationally fixed about its transverse pivotpoint 33 so that the table side 36 of clevis 31 is fixed substantiallyperpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of elongate frame 11.Specifically, table side 36 is so perpendicularly fixed through thecombination of locking bar 50 and the abutment means. Lockingbar 50 ispivoted about bolt 51 and is rotationally fixed in the downward positionwith threaded bolt 52 passing through the lower threaded perforation ofthe frames perforation trio and through a second perforation oflocking-bar 50. The downward length of locking-bar 50 is such that bar50 will longitudinally bear against collar member elongate shank 32 andlimit the pivotal motion of table side 36 toward frame second end 18 toa position whereby table side 36 is substantially perpendicular to theelongate frame longitudinal axis. As previously mentioned, the abutmentmeans inherently limit the pivotal motion of table side 36 toward framefirst end 17 to a position whereby table side 36 is substantiallyperpendicular to the elongate frame longitudinal axis.

That lesser desirable alternate situation where the block-and-tacklesupporting tower is of a lower height than the length of pipe to beelevated and wherein the pipe 61 must therefore be engaged at severalincremental positions along the cylindrical length thereof is indicatedin FIGURE 3, with collar member 30 and locking-bar 50 being shown inphantom line. In this alternate situation collar member 30 must be freeto pivot about its transverse pivot point 33 toward frame second end18', thus, locking-bar 50 is rotationally fixed in its phantom lineupwards position, by utilizing a threaded bolt within the upwardthreaded perforation 53 of the frames perforation trio, so thatlocking-bar 58 does not interefere with the pivotal motion of elongateshank 32. As clevis 31 freely pivots so as to become oblique with thelongitudinal axis of cylindrical pipe 61, the operator manually pullsvertically upon non-rigid handle means, herein as a flexible rope 47tied securely through shank rearward perforation 46; in so pulling uponrope 47 the oblique clevis 31 and stop pin 37 become frictionallyengaged with the cylindrical sidewall of pipe 61. When the power sourcehas assumed its full travel within the tower and it is thereforenecessary to assume a new incremental position of engagement along thepipe sidewall, rope 47 is pulledtin an oblique horizontal direction soas to release the original clevis and stop pin engagement with pipe 61.Then, while pipe 61 is being held by a conventional guide-support (notshown) located along the ground, the vertical cable 57 and now freelyslidable clevis 31 are moved to a new position alongside pipe 61, andrope 47 is again pulled vertically so that oblique clevis 31 and stoppin 37 become again frictionally engaged with the cylindrical sidewallof pipe 61. In this manner, clevis 31 can be repeatedly engaged atselected new positions along pipe 61.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the pipe elevatorwill be readily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pipe elevator device adapted to securely engage a cylindricalelongate vertical pipe along the cylindrical length thereof includingdirectly beneath a coupling integrally connected to the upper end ofsaid vertical pipe, said pipe elevator device comprising:

(A) An elongate frame having a longitudinal slot therethrough, a firstend of said elongate frame being provided with a transverse perforationtherethrough,

(B) A collar member comprising a U-shaped clevis forward portion and anintegrally connected elongate shank rearward portion, said clevisforward portion hazing a table side nearer to the elongate frame firsten (i) A transverse stop pin removably attached across the forwardopening of said clevis,

(ii) The elongate shank of said collar member being positioned withinthe longitudinal slot of the elongate frame and being pivotably attachedthereto by means of a transverse pivot pin passing through the elongateframe and the collar member elongate shank, said elongate shankextending rearwar-dly of the elongate frame and towards the second endof said elongate frame, said elongate shank being transverselyperforate,

(C) A locking-bar positioned within the longitudinal slot of theelongate frame and being normally pivotably attached thereto by means ofa transverse pivot pin passing into the elongate frame and saidlocking-bar, said pivotal locking-bar being adapted to longitudinallybear against the collar member so as to limit the pivotal motion of thecollar member clevis toward the elongate frame second end to a positionwhereby the clevis treble side is substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the elongate frame, and means to rotationally fixsaid normally pivotal locking-bar longitudinally within the elongateframe, and Y (D) Means to limit the pivotal motion of the collar memberclevis toward the elongate frame first end to a position whereby theclevis table side is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the elongate frame. i

2. A pipe elevator device comprising:

(A) An elongate frame comprising a pair of elongate bars rigidly spacedapart in substantially parallel relationship to provide a longitudinalslot through said elongate frame,

(B) A lug attached near a first end of said elongate frame, said lughaving a transverse perforation therethrough,

(C) A collar member comprising a U-shaped clevis forward position and anintegrally connected elongate shank rearward portion, said clevisforward portion having a table side nearer to the elongate frame firstend.

(i) The two respective arms of said U-shaped clevis being provided withlinearly aligned transverse passages therethrough, said transversepassages being located near the forward opening of said clevis, atransverse stop pin slidably passing through said aligned transversepassages, means to maintain said transverse stop pin within said alignedtransverse passages, a sleeve slidably surrounding the stop pin betweenthe two clevis arms said sleeve being rotationally fixed with respect tothe surrounded stop pin, and non-rigid linking means connected to atrailing end of the stop pin and the elongate frame,

(ii) The elongate shank of said collar member being poistioned withinthe longitudinal slot of the elongate frame and being pivotably attachedthereto by means of a transverse pivot pin passing through the elongateframe and the collar member elongate shank, said elongate shankextending rearwardly of the elongate frame and towards the second end ofthe elongate frame, said elongate shank being transversely perforatenear the second end of the elongate frame,

(D) A normally pivotal locking-bar positioned within the elongate slotof the elongate frame and being pivotably attached thereto by means of atransverse pivot pin passing through the elongate frame and said lockingbar, said pivotal locking-bar being adapted to longitudinally bearagainst the collar member elongate shank so as to limit the pivotalmotion of the collar member clevis toward the elongate frame second endto a position whereby the clevis table side is substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate frame, and meansto rotationally fix said normally pivotal locking bar longitudinallywithin the elongate frame, and

(E) Abutment means for the collar member on the elongate frame to limitthe pivotal motion of the collar member clevis toward the elongate framefirst end to a position whereby the clevis table side is substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate frame.

3. A pipe elevator device comprising:

(A) An elongate frame comprising a pair of elongate bars rigidly spacedapart in substantially parallel relationship to provide a longitudinalslot through said elongate frame, said elongate frame having a trio ofsubstantially linearly aligned and equally spaced transverseperforations therethrough along the longitudinal length thereof, the twoterminal transverse performations of the trio being threaded,

(B) A lug attached between said elongate bars near a first end of saidelongate frame, said lug having a transverse perforation therethrough,

(C) A collar member comprising a U-shaped clevis forward portion and anintegrally connected elongate shank rearward portion, said clevisforward portion having a planar table side nearer to the elongate framefirst end,

(i) The two respective arms of said U-shaped clevis being provided Withlinearly aligned transverse passages near the forward opening of saidclevis, a transverse stop pin of non-circular cross-sectional shapeslideably passing through said transverse passages, a sleeve ofnon-circular internal cross-sectional shape slidably surrounding thestop-pin between the two clevis arms, said stop pin being rearwardlynotched near the leading end thereof, a restraining plate pivotablyattached to one side of the U-shaped clevis, said restraining platebeing adapted to pivot into engagement with a leading end rearward notchof the transverse stop pin so as to maintain said stop pin within thealigned transverse passages, and a chain connected between the stop pintrailing end and the elongate frame,

(ii) The elongate shank of said collar member being positioned withinthe longitudinal slot of the elongate frame and being pivotably attachednearer to the frame second end by means of a transverse pivot pinpassing through the elongate frame and the collar member elongate shank,said elongate shank extending rearwardly of the elongate frame towardsthe second end thereof, said elongate frame being transversely perforatenear the second end of the elongate frame, a non-rigid handle meansattached to the shank perforate portion,

(D) A rectangular locking-bar positioned with the longitudinal slot ofthe elongate frame between the collar member and the elongate framefirst end by means of a transverse pivot pin passing through the medialof said trio perforations and a non-threaded perforation of said lockingbar, said normally pivotal locking bar being adapted to longitudinallybear against the collar member elongate shank so as to limit the pivotalmotion of the collar member clevis toward the elongate frame second endto a position whereby the clevis planar table side is substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate frame, and athreaded bolt passing through at least one of the two threaded terminalperforations of said trio and through a locking-bar perforation so as torotationally fix said normally pivotal locking-bar longitudinally withinthe elongate frame, and

(E) Abutment means for the collar member on the elongate frame to limitthe pivotal motion of the collar member clevis toward the elongate framefirst end to a position whereby the clevis planar table side issubstantially perpendicular to the elongate frame longitudinal axis.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,108,732 2/1912Viger. 1,503,588 8/ 1924 Johnson. 2,067,372 l/ 1937 Andrews.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner. C. SPADERNA, Assistant Examiner,

1. A PIPE ELEVATOR DEVICE ADAPTED TO SECURELY ENGAGE A CYLINDRICALELONGATE VERTICAL PIPE ALONG THE CYLINDRICAL LENGTH THEREOF INCLUDINGDIRECTLY BENEATH A COUPLING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OFSAID VERTICAL PIPE, SAID PIPE ELEVATOR DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) ANELONGATE FRAME HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT THERETHROUGH, A FIRST END OFSAID ELONGATE FRAME BEING PROVIDED WITH A TRANSVERSE PERFORATIONTHERETHROUGH, (B) A COLLAR MEMBER COMPRISING A U-SHAPED CLEVIS FORWARDPORTION AND AN INTEGRALLY CONNECTED ELONGATE SHANK REARWARD PORTION,SAID CLEVIS FORWARD PORTION HAVING A TABLE SIDE NEARER TO THE ELONGATEFRAME FIRST END (I) A TRANSVERSE STOP PIN REMOVABLY ATTACHED ACROSS THEFORWARD OPENING OF SAID CLEVIS, (II) THE ELONGATE SHANK OF SAID COLLARMEMBER BEING POSITIONED WITHIN THE LONGITUDINAL SLOT OF THE ELONGATEFRAME AND BEING PIVOTABLY ATTACHED THERETO BY MEANS OF A TRANSVERSEPIVOT PIN PASSING THROUGH THE ELONGATE FRAME AND THE COLLAR MEMBERELONGATE SHANK, SAID ELONGATE SHANK EXTENDING REARWARDLY OF THE ELONGATEFRAME AND TOWARDS THE SECOND END OF SAID ELONGATE FRAME, SAID ELONGATESHANK BEING TRANSVERSELY PERFORATE, (C) A LOCKING-BAR POSITIONED WITHINTHE LONGITUDINAL SLOT OF THE ELONGATE FRAME AND BEING NORMALLY PIVOTABLYATTACHED THERETO BY MEANS OF A TRANSVERSE PIVOT PIN PASSING INTO THEELONGATE FRAME AND SAID LOCKING-BAR, SAID PIVOTAL LOCKING-BAR BEINGADAPTED TO LONGITUDINALLY BEAR AGAINST THE COLLAR MEMBER SO AS TO LIMITTHE PIVOTAL MOTION OF THE COLLAR MEMBER CLEVIS TOWARD THE ELONGATE FRAMESECOND END TO A POSITION WHEREBY THE CLEVIS TABLE SIDE IS SUBSTANTIALLYPERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE ELONGATE FRAME, AND MEANSTO ROTATIONALLY FIX SAID NORMALLY PIVOTAL LOCKING-BAR LONGITUDINALLYWITHIN THE ELONGATE FRAME, AND (D) MEANS TO LIMIT THE PIVOTAL MOTION OFTHE COLLAR MEMBER CLEVIS TOWARD THE ELONGATE FRAME FIRST END TO APOSITION WHEREBY THE CLEVIS TABLE SIDE IS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TOTHE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE ELONGATE FRAME.